Rapid urbanization has led to environmental, social, and economic challenges in cities worldwide, including increased exposure to extreme weather events and pollution. Governments must work together to improve urban livability and resilience through risk-informed urban planning. Livable and resilient cities promote green urban growth, social inclusion, and shared prosperity while focusing on reducing the impacts of natural hazards and climate change. Planned and sustainable growth in these cities ensures access to healthy environments, affordable housing, basic services, and low-carbon transportation.
Category: Buildings
Cut Emissions:
– Shift Energy Sources
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Panasonic’s AI Strategy Enters the Implementation Phase: Real-World Impact for Better Future Showcased at CES 2026
At CES 2026, the Panasonic Group showcased a range of AI and advanced technology solutions, focusing on workplace, wellness, and environmental solutions. These included innovations such as a smart aging-care solution, RizMo biorhythm monitoring device, and perovskite solar cells for renewable energy generation. The company also introduced an automatic home appliance disassembly system to improve recycling efficiency, demonstrating their commitment to building a sustainable future through innovative technology solutions. Panasonic's comprehensive manufacturing capabilities are being leveraged to support the evolving needs of AI infrastructure, with a focus on improving operational efficiency and reducing environmental impact in data centers.
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This Startup Retrofits Buildings Using As Few New Materials As Possible
GeoStruXer, a startup in Bahrain, used innovative engineering solutions to stabilize a grain warehouse in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, known for its unstable geological conditions. By reducing the need for new materials and potential carbon emissions, the startup maintained the structure in an effective and sustainable way. Instead of installing 2,700 stabilizing micropiles as initially proposed, GeoStruXer used satellite technology and InSAR to accurately measure ground deformation and address the shifting of the building. This approach showcased the importance of understanding incremental shifting over time in engineering solutions for climate resilience. Additionally, GeoStruXer's use of AI and satellite data to model ground deformation accurately not only reduced the number of micropilings needed but also saved materials, costs, and minimized carbon dioxide emissions, ensuring the structure's sustainability for another 10 years. This approach is being applied in various projects to reduce material use, minimize cumbersome methods, and maximize structural performance, ultimately avoiding the emissions involved in building new structures. GeoStruXer's recognition with the Bentley-Envision award for sustainable infrastructure highlights the importance of integrating software like GeoStruXer to eliminate inaccurate assumptions, leading to reduced costs, materials, and emissions in construction projects. Bentley Systems' introduction of a sustainability award category further emphasizes the significance of evaluating the environmental, social, and economic impacts of projects, with GeoStruXer scoring the best in sustainability out of all 270 entrants in Bentley's infrastructure awards categories.
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MOCHI Blocks 90% Of Heat Transfer In Windows
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a new material called MOCHI, which is a thin coating that can be applied to windows to allow light in while reducing heat transfer by 90%. Made of a silicone gel with tiny air bubbles, MOCHI is long-lasting, transparent, and could revolutionize energy efficiency in buildings. This clear-but-insulating material could trap heat from sunlight for sustainable energy production and has a thermal transmittance that beats conventional windows by a large margin. While the potential impact on global energy demand is revolutionary, the mass production feasibility of MOCHI is still uncertain due to the time-consuming manufacturing process.
https://cleantechnica.com/2026/01/07/mochi-blocks-90-of-heat-transfer-in-windows/
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Some Ho, Ho, Hopes for 2026 and Beyond
In 2026 and beyond, advancements in clean energy, climate action, and innovation offer hope for addressing climate change. Key themes include focusing on the business case for clean energy, increasing public funding for climate technologies, utilizing AI for innovation and energy efficiency, accelerating deployment of low-carbon energy, and promoting electrification for global decarbonization. The need for year-round, real-economy action and increased climate ambition is emphasized, along with the importance of collaboration and sharing knowledge in the pursuit of climate solutions.
https://speedandscale.com/newsletter/some-ho-ho-hopes-for-2026-and-beyond/
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2025 Highlight: Guangzhou Shows a Potential Future of Clean City Living
Guangzhou, part of the Pearl River Delta megalopolis, showcases innovative urban planning strategies that prioritize sustainability and quality of life. The city's advanced urban design features vertical greenery, parks over shopping malls, and well-landscaped public spaces, contributing to a pleasant and livable environment. With a focus on sustainable transportation, renewable energy sources, and efficient land use, Guangzhou serves as a model for reducing emissions and promoting green living. Despite facing challenges like scooter traffic and the need for more electrification, embracing clean technology can lead to a cleaner and better future in this vibrant and technology-driven city.
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Growing agri-PV tomatoes while producing hydrogen for smart windows
Researchers at the University of Exeter have developed a concept for a residential building in the UK that combines rooftop agrivoltaics with onsite hydrogen production. The electricity generated by the solar system is used to produce hydrogen for hydrogen vehicles and smart windows, with the system able to meet the annual demand of the smart windows and support up to 64.23 km of driving per day. The study also discusses the thermal performance of vacuum gasochromic windows and the potential of small rooftop areas to support building-scale hydrogen applications. The impact of agrivoltaics on home insulation and the use of produced hydrogen for home heating are areas of future research, as detailed in the publication in Energy and Buildings titled "Rooftop agrivoltaic powered onsite hydrogen production for insulated gasochromic smart glazing and hydrogen vehicles: A holistic approach to sustainable residential building."
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Argentina’s YPF Luz begins 100 MW output at El Quemado solar park
YPF Luz has activated the first 100 MW of its El Quemado solar park in Mendoza province, the first renewable energy facility to operate under Argentina's Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI). With an estimated investment of $210 million, the project is progressing towards a total capacity of 305 MW, generating enough electricity for over 233,000 Argentine households. This milestone marks a significant step towards the country's renewable energy goals, showcasing the potential for large-scale projects in energy infrastructure to accelerate the transition to clean energy sources.
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Massive Solar Plus Storage Facility To Replace Coal And Gas, Too
The article discusses the transition from coal power plants to cleaner energy solutions at the Sherco Energy Hub in Minnesota, where Xcel Energy is replacing coal with renewable energy sources. Xcel plans to retire all remaining coal power plants in the region and focus on leveraging renewable energy assets, including a large solar array and significant battery energy storage system. The company intends to offset costs for battery and solar projects, with construction on the battery storage projects starting in 2026. Xcel sees energy storage as a critical part of Minnesota's energy future, allowing for a diversified energy mix that excludes coal. Additionally, Xcel has incorporated solar grazing at the Sherco Energy Hub, with nearly 2,000 sheep helping to maintain the PV array and provide environmental benefits.
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Charting The Changes That Will Lead To Renewable Energy Dominance In 2026
Bill McKibben, a climate realist, acknowledges the dire state of the planet due to global warming but sees hope in the increasing use of alternative energy sources like solar and wind power. He notes the significant progress made in countries like China and Australia in transitioning to renewable energy. McKibben emphasizes the importance of shifting away from fossil fuels towards clean energy solutions to combat the climate crisis. The article also touches on the challenges posed by the current capitalist system that benefits from the extraction and distribution of fossil fuels. The shift towards renewable energy is noted, with examples like China exporting more green technologies than fossil fuels, and the potential for a more sustainable and equitable energy future is emphasized.